Shopkeeper/president ‘part of the process’

Beth SheedyThe late Jarrell Yarbrough was one of UW-Green Bay’s most dynamic faculty members, an enthusiastic ambassador for his field of political science. Beth Sheedy ’88 is one of his former students who took those lessons to heart.

“He made it clear you shouldn’t complain about local and national management if you did nothing to change it,” she remembers. “He always stressed, ‘be part of the process.’ I have found that to be exactly the case.”

Sheedy was reelected in April to a second term as village president of Suamico. The fast-growing community (pop. 11,000) just north of Green Bay is a mix of development, farms, woodlands and wetlands along the bayshore. The president and six trustees guide policy, a full-time administrative staff handles day-to-day operations.

Sheedy has her own day job, as owner and operator of Beth’s Boutique, a women’s clothing and accessory store located in a historic former inn at the Vickery Village shops. With retail by day and, often, village business by night, free time is scarce.

“I believe we all get to a point in life where we ask ourselves what it is we can do to make a difference,” says Sheedy, who grew up on a farm in Suamico. “I felt the need to give back to a community that has been so good to my family.”

As village president, she pledges good services at a reasonable tax rate. She also remembers her former professor’s passion for civic involvement.

“By being part of the process, you make a difference for the community… but I also find you’re more passionate and enthusiastic about life in general, and about living in Suamico. It’s rewarding.”

(A version of this story also appears in the November 2008 print edition of Inside UW-Green Bay magazine, in a special section on alumni involved in civic service or elected office.)